->Arjayay: Reduce overlinking

2021-11-08T12:29:48Z

Reduce overlinking

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=October 2011}}
{{more footnotes|date=October 2011}}
}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Nartiang Durga Temple
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| country = India
| state = [[Meghalaya]]
| district = [[West Jaintia Hills district]]
| location = West Jaintia Hills district
| elevation_m =
| deity = Goddess Durga
| year_completed =
| architecture =
| creator =
| website =
}}
[[File:Nartiang Durga temple.jpg|thumb|Nartiang Durga temple]]
'''Nartiang Durga Temple''' is a 600-year-old Durga temple located in the [[West Jaintia Hills district]] of [[Meghalaya]], a state in North-Eastern India.<ref name="m.timesofindia.com">{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lofty-Himalayas-notwithstanding-the-tribal-people-of-Nartiang-in-the-Jaintia-Hills-of-Meghalaya-truly-believe-that-their-scenic-little-hamlet-is-the-permanent-abode-of-Goddess-Durga-Perched-atop-a-hillock-is-the-more-than-600-year-old-and-ancient-Durgabari-a-simple-house-made-of-stones-and-wood-complete-with-tin-roofing-Revered-as-one-of-the-51-Shakti-Peethas-the-temple-has-been-drawing-a-large-number-of-pilgrims-from-all-over-the-country-on-occasion-of-Durga-Puja-/articleshow/6754889.cms | title=Lofty Himalayas notwithstanding, the tribal people of Nartiang in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya truly believe that their scenic little hamlet is the "permanent abode" of Goddess Durga. Perched atop a hillock is the more than 600-year old and ancient Durgabari - a simple house made of stones and wood complete with tin roofing. Revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the temple has been drawing a large number of pilgrims from all over the country on occasion of Durga Puja. | date=15 October 2010 | first=Manosh | last=Das | newspaper=The Times of India | accessdate=5 March 2020 }}</ref> It is one of the 51 [[Shakti Peethas]] and is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the [[Shaktism]] sect of Hinduism.<ref name="ambaji">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.51shaktipeethambaji.org/Detail.aspx?Shaktipeeth=47 |title=Jayanti Shakti Pith, Meghalaya |work=ambaji.org |date= |accessdate=5 November 2017}}</ref> The Hindus in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya believes that this temple is the '''permanent abode of Goddess Durga'''.The temple draws a large number of pilgrims from all over the country on occasion of [[Durga Puja]].<ref name="m.timesofindia.com"/> The [[Shakti]] of Nartiang Devi shrine is worshipped as '''Jayanti''' and the [[Bhairava]] as '''Kamadishwar'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/articleshow/40349414.cms|title = Serpent goddess revered in Meghalaya village | Guwahati News - Times of India}}</ref>

==Significance==
{{main|Daksha Yaga|Shakti Peethas}}
[[File:Dakshayani.jpg|thumb|Shiva carrying the corpse of [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] Devi]]
The Nartiang Devi Temple is believed to be a [[Shakti Peetha]], one of the most revered shrines of [[Shaktism]] as [[Shakti Peethas]] are Holy abodes of [[Shakti|Parashakti]]. The Shakti Peethas have originated from ''the mythology of Daksha yagna and Sati's self immolation'' [[Shiva]] carried the corpse of [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] Devi and 51 body parts of the corpse fell in the path He had wandered. Each temple has shrines for both [[Shakti]] as well as the corresponding male energy counterpart [[Kalabhairava]]. The "Shakti" of Nartiang Devi shrine is addressed as 'Jayanti' and the "Kalabhairava" as 'Kamadishwar'. It is believed that Sati Devi's left thigh had fallen there.<ref name="ambaji"/>

== History ==
Devi's left thigh is believed to have fallen at Nartiang in the Jaintia Hills. Hence the Goddess is known as '''Jainteshwari'''. The Jaintia king Jaso Manik (1606–1641) had married Lakshmi Narayana, the daughter of the Hindu Koch king Nara Narayana. It is believed that it was Lakshmi Narayana who had influenced the Jaintia Royalty to embrace [[Hinduism]]. King Dhan Manik had made [[Nartiang]] the summer capital of the [[Jaintia Kingdom]] about 600 years ago. One night, the goddess appeared to him in a dream and informed him of the significance of the place and asked him to build a temple in Her honour. Following this, the Jainteshwari temple in Nartiang was established. The strategic location of the temple and presence of weapons like cannons suggests that the temple must have been part of a fort of the Jaintia Kings.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

== Worship ==
The rites at the temple are not performed the conventional way as in the plains, but in a unique way, a blend of Hindu and ancient [[Khasi people|Khasi]] traditions. The local chieftain or Syiem is considered the chief patron of the temple. Even today, during Durga Puja, the Syiem sacrifices goats. [[Durga Puja]] is the most important festival of this temple. During Durga Puja, a banana plant is dressed up and worshipped as the Goddess. At the end of the four-day festivities, the plant is ceremoniously immersed in the Myntdu River. A gun salute is also given to the Goddess on the occasion.

== At present ==
The Central Puja Committee, the official representative of the Hindu community in Meghalaya, is the caretaker of the temple. It finances a major part of the daily expenses incurred by the temple and carries out development activities in the temple premises. It is also responsible for the popularisation of the Durga Puja conducted in this ancient temple. Durga puja is done every autumn in a unique way with the fusion of the culture of Bengal and that of the [[Khasi-Jaintia Hills]]. In conformity of the Khasi custom of not using figurine images of Gods and Goddesses, the image of Durga is represented by a plantain trunk decked with marigold flowers. Close by, within walking distance, is the Shiva temple where one can see the remains of ancient cannons from the past inside the temple. At present there lies a Hindu temple in this vicinity and the priests who practice there are direct descendants of the original priests that came from Jaintiapur.

In 2017, the union minister [[Kiren Rijiju]] said that the temple will be declared as a heritage site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/500-yr-old-durga-temple-to-be-declared-heritage-site-rijiju-1055577-2017-09-30|title = 500-yr-old Durga temple to be declared heritage site: Rijiju}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Durga temples]]
[[Category:West Jaintia Hills district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Meghalaya]]

Nartiang Durga Temple - Revision history

->Arjayay: Reduce overlinking